Is who you know overrated?

[redemption89234]

Weve all heard your network is your networth but is who you know overrated? Isnt being as self reliable and resourcleful as possible the goal?

 

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[Jon822]

Who you know matters a lot when job searching and getting promotions, but in business it is almost irrelevant. While knowing the right people can give advantages, the entire point of the Fastlane is that you're in the driver's seat: with or without marginal networking advantages, you control the route. Additionally, you're more likely to meet the "right" people while plotting your own course.

People who say that your network is your net worth are either losers who don't want to take accountability for themselves or people who fail to see the survivorship bias: if there's a high correlation between network and net worth, it's because they networked with the right people as part of their own business process.

 

[TheWiseGuy]

Who you know is important— if you're established. I highly doubt Billy Big Balls is gonna form a relationship with Joe, the aspiring entrepreneur living out of his car.

Joe will need to bootstrap something, provide value and then—maybe—Billy Big Balls will come knocking.

 

[Kevin88660]

Weve all heard your network is your networth but is who you know overrated? Isnt being as self reliable and resourcleful as possible the goal?

It adds value until you get too carried away with it.

Some think of network as movie plots scenes where a phone call can get your business loan approved or land you a big contract. That rarely happens.

It’s really the small things you do everyday that earns the trust of others.

Your customers are your network.

Your suppliers are your network.

Your business partners are your network.

 

[Mark - Think180]

Weve all heard your network is your networth but is who you know overrated? Isnt being as self reliable and resourcleful as possible the goal?

Build relationships and a network as you go by being authentic and helpful. Be careful who you hang out with. Find other fastlaners.

I often hear people use the lack of a network and knowing the "right people" as an excuse for not moving forward. It's absolutely possible to succeed from starting with no contacts and no network.

 

[BizyDad]

No one gets anywhere alone.

Being valuable and reliable is a good goal, and being "self reliable" and valuing yourself is a good part of that bigger goal.

Weve all heard your network is your networth but is who you know overrated? Isnt being as self reliable and resourcleful as possible the goal?

You are looking at this as an either or choice. The answer is both. Who you know matters. And who you are matters.

And I completely disagree that being as resourceful as possible as a goal. Being resourceful is good. Being as resourceful as possible is overkill.

That's just going to lead to a life spent learning all the things, when you could just lean on other people to help you with the things that you are not resourceful or knowledgeable about.

 

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[WJK]

Weve all heard your network is your networth but is who you know overrated? Isnt being as self reliable and resourcleful as possible the goal?

Yes, you need a network. Yes, you must be self-reliant and resourceful. These are two of the tools in your resource box -- not a replacement for each other. Networking is about who you know when you need that perfect person in a specific situation -- or a resource to find that person. It's an exercise in "people skills". The other tool is commonly known as "grit". What do you do with that opportunity or contact to further your goals? That's business skills and your internal drive to make it all work.

Yes, you need it all!

 

[Kak]

Other people are the most important part of business.

Are you screwed if you don’t? Well, no. There’s still time to meet people.

People make up your customer base. They make up your investor pool. They also end up being your employees and partnerships. Your supply chain consists people. Transportation still needs people.

 

[SDE]

Quite the opposite.

Who you know has helped many by-pass gatekeepers in jobs, businesses, clubs, teams, restaurant-reservations, etc.

But just because you don't know 'the guy' or 'the gal' doesn't mean you should stop moving forward like @Mark - Think180 said above.

Imagine this:

You're trying to get a shelf-space at Walmart to sell your new high-quality energy drink. Which is going to be easier:

A: You go through their regular process like everyone else.

B: You're friends with the guy whose uncle is the chief buyer at Walmart


This is how lot of things work, whether we like it or not. But still, don’t let not knowing someone stop you from doing what you need to do.

 

[Kevin88660]

Quite the opposite.

Who you know has helped many by-pass gatekeepers in jobs, businesses, clubs, teams, restaurant-reservations, etc.

But just because you don't know 'the guy' or 'the gal' doesn't mean you should stop moving forward like @Mark - Think180 said above.

Imagine this:

You're trying to get a shelf-space at Walmart to sell your new high-quality energy drink. Which is going to be easier:

A: You go through their regular process like everyone else.

B: You're friends with the guy whose uncle is the chief buyer at Walmart


This is how lot of things work, whether we like it or not. But still, don’t let not knowing someone stop you from doing what you need to do.

Selling to C is the most meritocratic. To B involves quite some forms of relationships.

 

[Rhett]

Weve all heard your network is your networth but is who you know overrated? Isnt being as self reliable and resourcleful as possible the goal?

I certainly think it is important. But I also feel like who you know is a bit of a cart before the horse kinda thing. People with a great network have usually acquired it because of their skills. That said, being around the right people can accelerate your skills and get you access to bigger and better opportunities. I find most people focused on 'networking' would often be better served honing their craft and working on projects in public. Best of both worlds. I think I read somewhere that you want to split your career time into 3 buckets. A third with people better than you to learn, a third with people at your level for opportunities, and a third with people getting started to give back. Seems about right to me.

 

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